Guardian Survey: Despite Perceived Effectiveness, Most Employees Who Participate in Wellness Programs Do Not Stay...( Cash Gifts and Extra Vacation Days...),Health

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Covered by Insurance

NEW YORK, March 31 /PRNewswire/ -- As wellness programs grow in popularity, employees overwhelmingly see value in these healthy activities, but don't stay committed to them according to a new survey from the Guardian Life Insurance Company of America (Guardian). Nearly half of employees who have participated in wellness programs in the past three years admit that their commitment trails off after just a few years.

But there's hope ...

I'll lay off the trans-fat if you send me to Tahiti

-- Employees (68%) believe that incentives such as cash, gifts and extra

vacation days can help them to shore up the willpower to adopt

healthier behaviors such as exercising, eating properly and kicking

their smoking habits.

-- Two-thirds of all employees and 85% of those who are currently enrolled

or have participated in a wellness program in the past three years say

that these programs are very effective in promoting good health.

Guardian, a leading provider of employee and voluntary benefits, including group medical plans conducted the survey, Benefits & Behavior: Spotlight on Group Medical, to gain insight about consumer viewpoints on health, wellness and medical insurance.

According to the study:

-- Three in 10 employees either currently participate and/or have

participated in a wellness program in the past three years.

-- Only 35% of employees report that they have access to wellness programs

at work. And half of those who believe that they have access at work

are currently enrolled in a program.

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